"Are you hurt?" Allegra asked.
He stared at Allegra for a couple seconds before twisting his face into hatred, answering with, "No! Go away and practice your violin or something. Better not waste your talent too."
Allegra thought about this tactfully. If she asked a stupid question, he would probably shove her out again, but if she asked an emotional question.. Well, she didn't quite know how he'd react. "Did you love my mother when you were alive?"
"... She was my angel of music, as I was hers."
Okay, Allegra was ninety-nine percent sure that was a yes. "You look so lonely.. What if I brought my mom here?"
"No, don't you dare do that," he almost growled at her, walking past her and near the wall. "She's happy now. She never was before. Who would I be to stop that?" He chuckled. "A monster?"
"Yes, but-"
"Phantom!" a voice called near the entrance.
He quickly pulled Allegra to a small nook she could hide in, told her not to come out or he threatened to kill her, and went to stand in the middle of the clearing.
"Hello, Phantom," Meg smiled, walking close to him. "Gosh, it's been forever since we've talked. I wonder if you remember scaring that one ballerina into leaving when she saw that man. Hah, I'm kinda glad that stopped, though it was kinda interesting to watch."
"What do you want, manager? You know I can't hurt anyone, it would use my energy."
"Technically, you could possess someone, or convince them to do your bidding. Your friend is still around, but I doubt you like him after he betrayed you... Anyway, what I'm really here for is to warn you. Christine's daughter is the new concertmistress in the orchestra. If you still harbour hostility towards Christine, you will leave her daughter alone. She is kind, but a little naive sometimes, so just don't bother talking to her at all. No scaring people either. Am I clear? I could arrange for someone to cleanse you from here if you start to cause trouble... Who knows where'd you go..."
He merely glared at her, like a child being forced to do the dishes.
"Good. This place means a lot to Allegra's future, and mine.. Simply your past." With that she left quickly. He followed after her, then came back about thirty seconds later.
"It's okay, come out."
Allegra stood up and walked closer to him. "So, should I call you Phantom?" she smirked at him.
"No. You might as well know… It's Erik."
"Erik.. Common, but cute. It sounds harmless."
Erik sighed. "I've done a lot of good things, and a lot of bad things in my life. You heard her. I've killed people, scared them. I even created a new form of the noose! I deserve to go to Hell if she had someone free me from this place."
"Hey, I admit that I'm not like my mother in some aspects.. But she did teach me how to see the good in people, and when they are hurting on the inside. I can see both in you. You don't scare me."
Erik scoffed at her. "You ran away the first time you met me.."
"I barely knew you, and you startled me!"
"And what about when you first saw me and my mask? You looked frightened then too."
"I was upset when I saw the pain in your eyes."
He turned away from Allegra, tears falling down freely. "Just.. come back later. And bring your violin next time, idiot," he commanded, trying to sound vicious once more.
Allegra said she would, smiling. At least she was starting to help his broken spirit.
As she was walking back she wondered how her mother had broken him so badly. This was the same woman that nursed birds until they could fly again, and refused to kill spiders.
Or maybe his dark side had almost killed her, and she ran away, afraid of him. A flash of hatred sparked inside Allegra at that thought, surprising even herself. She only just met Erik, but her mother must have been able to seen the kindness under the walls he kept around him for protection. How could she still not repair the divide between them even if she loved Allegra's father more?
Allegra had been keenly intent on discovering the past, but now it was starting to confuse her. She couldn't trust anyone now, and had no one to turn to for help. Loneliness bit at her heart, but she couldn't dwell on it. Erik needed her, and she had a concert to practice for.
(Hi! Sorry I didn't update yesterday. I had to catch up on some homework. It's hard to find time to write when I have advanced classes, plus my band is going to a competition this Wednesday. Some of Allegra's stress about her concert stems from my own. I have to prove I'm serious about band if I want to become the leader of my section next year, and it means a lot to me. Also, a writing project for a magazine is starting to really wear me thin. But don't worry. I'm fiercely devoted to this story now. I'll try updating at least every two days or so, more if I procrastinate. :) )